Diversity destroyers ruin it for everyone

Hey, kids: Did you hear about the cool summer programs planned at the Pickens County Public Library? Something fun to do every Thursday — T-shirt dyeing, scrapbooking, ghost stories, a spiked hair contest. And while you're at the library, you could pick up a book or two for summer reading. (Sneaky adults: Always trying to get you to read!)

Well, sorry, but the program's been cancelled.

See, some people got worked up about one of the Thursdays, the one that was going to include astrology, numerology, palm-reading and tarot cards. A minister mentioned it to his flock (a very large flock) at Wednesday night services. Suddenly the library's phones were ringing off the hook, callers complaining about the occult and Eastern religions and other scary things.

The librarians got nervous and decided to cancel all the Thursdays.

"They were talking about picketing the library," the library system director told a newspaper reporter.

The minister said he didn't mean things to go that far, that he and his congregation had no problem with all the other Thursdays, only the evil tarot card one.

"We weren't against the reading program at all," he told the reporter. "We just want our children being taught the right things …"

The irony is, this "You Never Know @ The Library" summer program is part of a nationwide initiative. Public libraries in 41 states are playing host to similar activities for tweens and teens this summer. The theme is mystery and science (or pseudoscience). Most of the Pickens library's ideas are lifted straight from the national Web site of the Collaborative Summer Library Program.

I did a little Internet browsing and, lo and behold, it's not only in South Carolina where devious public libraries are trying to poison young minds.

In Charlotte, kids will be decoding Egyptian hieroglyphics and trying their hands at mendhi, "the art of natural body decoration." You know, mendhi ... India … Hinduism.

In Great Falls, Mont., the youth program includes a psychic ability game and — gasp — soap carving. Sioux Falls, S.D. (infamous hotbed of liberal paganism) will offer youngsters workshops in magic, how to start your own garage band and a rock concert featuring "Harry and the Potters."

Kids up in Kennebunk, Maine (hey, isn't that next door to the Bush family's summer compound?!) will learn how to create secret codes and cryptic messages, as well as yoga. In West Lafayette, Ind. (another subversive hotspot), the library will help youngsters make jewelry out of beads and — horrors! — hemp.

Folks, there are a couple of messages here, and it doesn't take invisible ink to decode them.

First: The public library is not public enemy number one. It's a place where diverse ideas are available. Sample at your leisure. If you don't want your child to sample a particular program, vote with your car: Don't go.

Second: Be careful what you wish for — or exhort your flock to do. You just might end up destroying something of value.

Jeanne Malmgren can be reached at (864) 260-1254 or by e-mail at malmgrenj@IndependentMail.com.